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Top Questions
Holistic Care Questions
What should I expect during my first session?
On the day of your appointment, you will be required to fill out a General Health form, your therapist will then spend few minutes to discuss your health history, determine how your body is feeling on the day and discuss what you’d like to get out of the session. During this discussion, it’s your opportunity to communicate your needs, concerns, and any areas you prefer to have specifically worked with and conversely, the areas you would like the therapist to avoid.
If you’ve never had a massage before, you may discover what you like, dislike or need to adjust during your session. Always be sure to speak up and let the massage therapist know what you need. Whether it’s more pressure, less music or additional covers, there should always be an open line of communication between you and your therapist to make you as comfortable as possible, at all times.
How do I know which massage is right for me?
There are many approaches and modalities of massage. The best thing to do is to start by thinking about what it is primarily that you are looking to get from the experience. So, it depends on you and what type of touch you personally find meaningful and helpful as well as gives you the results you are seeking.
Do you want a massage to reduce stress and anxiety, or are you suffering from tight or painful muscles? Maybe you have had a recent injury or just want to take some “me” time for yourself.
It’s important to get an idea of the main reason you have started looking into having a massage. This should help you to narrow down your choice and get an idea of which is going to give you the best result.
Before booking your session, it's always best to have a phone consultation with the therapist to discuss which treatment is right for you to get the most benefit from your massage.
It is also important to list any allergies and health concerns so the therapist is aware if she needs to use a different oil or lotion during the session.
Will I need to take my clothes off?
It is most common for clients to completely undress for their massage, only keeping their underwear, especially if it is a full body massage, where the therapist will be working across your whole body. However, it’s completely up to you what you want to wear; undress to your level of comfort. If you’re wearing a bra, it would probably be beneficial to remove this so the therapist can work on your back properly. You will always be sufficiently covered with a blanket or large towel at all times for your comfort. A professional massage therapist will work with the cover so that you never feel exposed at all during the treatment. Ultimately, there are some main reasons why you are covered with a towel at all times during a massage. The first is for protecting your modesty, the second is for warmth and comfort and finally, the towel provides a physical boundary between client and therapist.
What is massage therapy good for?
The purpose is to improve the flow of blood and fluid in lymph glands to reduce muscular tension, affect the nervous system through stimulation or sedation and to enhance tissue healing.
Therapeutic massage may be recommended for the following:
Reducing muscle tension and stiffness
Increasing joint flexibility and range of motion
Relieving tension points and overall stress
To induce deeper and easier breathing
Improve healing speed of soft tissue injuries such as sprains and pulls
Reducing the formation of scar tissue following soft tissue injuries
Improving skin health
Improving posture
Reducing emotional or physical stress and anxiety
Improving mental awareness, feelings of well-being and alertness.
What to Do After the Massage?
Your massage therapist will give you a professional recommendation at the conclusion of your massage session. These recommendations could include how often you should get a massage, benefits of regular massage as well as a piece of self-care you can take away from the session to increase the cumulative effects of your massage. Massage usually isn’t a one-and-done therapy, and it’s important to know what you should do between sessions to enhance the positive effects.
Overall, while the massage therapist is the expert on massage, you’re in control of what happens during the session.
Will I feel sore the day after a massage?
Some people may feel a bit sore the day after a massage, especially if it was for deeper manipulation, as the muscles are technically getting a workout while being stretched and worked. But also not feeling tender the day after is perfectly normal, too, and is not the sign of a failed massage.
Is it safe to receive a massage if pregnant?
Yes it is safe to receive a massage after the first trimester. A prenatal massage can help mothers-to-be to by reducing their aches and pains, lowering the stress hormones present, and allowing the mother to relax and be pampered. If you are attending for a pregnancy massage and are having a low risk pregnancy with no complications then I would like you to get verbal consent from your midwife before you attend. If you have any existing health issues or are experiencing any pregnancy complications you will need to gain written consent from your midwife and bring this to your massage therapy appointment.
How do I prepare for a massage?
In order to prepare for a massage, is important to stay hydrated before and after your massage appointment. Stressed muscles lead to inflammation and toxin build-up that can block essential nutrients and oxygen from getting to where they need to go. This is what leads to pain and stress. When you get a massage, the toxins break up and release as the muscles loosen. If you drink plenty of water, those toxins will then flush out of your system. Remember to make sure you have been to the loo before you go in for your massage so you are not uncomfortable. As you should be as hydrated as possible before a massage, if you had alcohol, you will most likely be dehydrating yourself before your massage. In addition, the detoxifying effects of the massage will release more toxins in the bloodstream and heighten the negative effects of alcohol – so you may leave the massage table feeling drunker than before. However, drinking alcohol after a massage is fine, as long as you try to stay hydrated as possible.
Should I try and stay awake during my massage treatment?
You do not need to stay awake and it is very common to drift in and out of sleep during a treatment. It is a good sign that you are deeply relaxed. Your body and muscles will still be gaining benefit from the massage even if you are asleep. I will wake you gently at the end of the treatment so you don’t need to worry if you nod off.
Are there conditions where massage is not recommended?
There are very few instances where massage is not recommended and these are known by massage therapists as ‘total contraindications’. For example, total contraindications would include being under the influence of alcohol, suffering from a fever, diarrhoea or vomiting. There are also ‘local contraindications’ which are conditions affecting specific areas of the body that mean you should not be massaged in that area - for example if you have a cut, bruise or abrasion on your foot then you could still have a body massage but the foot would be avoided. Some conditions require medical approval before my insurance allows me to proceed with a massage. For example if you suffer from heart disease, asthma or epilepsy or are undergoing treatment for another medical condition from another specialist you will be required to produce a letter from your GP stating that you are OK to receive massage. The conditions mentioned above are for indication only - before you visit please speak to the therapist if you are concerned that any of the medical conditions apply to you and to check that the treatment you choose is suitable for you. You should not attend for a massage if you believe that you are suffering from or have been exposed to Covid-19.